Pastor John Cao’s Persecution and Unjust Imprisonment

(Hunan – March 19, 2025) Pastor John Cao of a Hunan house church, received theological education in the United States and holds U.S. permanent residency, became a target of persecution by Chinese authorities. Due to his faith and humanitarian charitable activities, he ultimately paid a heavy price.

In March 2017, Pastor John Cao returned to Yunnan, China, from Wa State in Myanmar. For convenience, he opted for an informal entry, but was charged with “organizing illegal border crossings” and sentenced to seven years in prison. The politically motivated trial was a clear act of retaliation for his religious charitable work, such as establishing drug rehabilitation centers and helping out-of-school children in Myanmar. Under the guise of law, the Chinese government suppressed a man dedicated to good deeds and sent him to prison.

Life After Release: Restrictions and the “Invisible Prison”

On March 4, 2024, Pastor John Cao was released after serving his sentence, but what awaited him was not freedom, but an invisible prison. His freedom remains restricted. His application for a Chinese passport was mercilessly denied by the authorities, his household registration was canceled, and he was unable to obtain a replacement ID card. This has left him unable to travel, access medical care, secure employment, or use financial services normally. He described his situation as “moving from a smaller prison to a larger one.” 

The authorities further tightened their restrictions on him, placing him on a border control list, prohibiting him from leaving the country, and preventing him from reuniting with his family in the United States. During the year following his release, he repeatedly applied for a passport from the public security authorities, but was consistently met with cold refusals. National Security personnel from the Dingwangtai Police Station of the Changsha Public Security Bureau explicitly told him, “You are not allowed to leave the country.”

“I have a U.S. green card, they inexplicably imprisoned me for seven years, and now they won’t let me return to the U.S. They say it’s an ‘order from higher-ups,’ but they provide no written documentation. This is a blatant deprivation of basic human rights,”

John Cao said in an interview with Radio Free Asia. Due to the authorities’ restrictions, he missed his eldest son’s PhD graduation ceremony, and will not make it to his son’s wedding, and will also be unable to welcome the birth of his grandchild.

Economically, John Cao’s situation is extremely difficult. Without an ID card, he struggles to find work and can only survive on a monthly subsistence allowance of 700 yuan. His daily expenses rely heavily on the retirement pension of his 88-year-old mother and financial support from church members. He lamented, “700 yuan in today’s China isn’t even enough for a decent meal.”

Endurance Through Faith: Continued Service Despite Hardship

Despite his difficult circumstances, John Cao has continued to remain steadfast in his faith and service. After his release, he continued to actively participate in house church gatherings and, with the support of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, persisted in preaching the gospel and encouraging Christians facing hardships. He organized small Bible study groups and, in situations where public gatherings were impossible, visited Christians privately to provide spiritual support. He also paid special attention to pastors and Christians persecuted for their faith, serving as their comforter and intercessor.

“I experienced God’s presence in prison, and now, in this larger prison, I can still feel His grace,” He said. 

International Attention and Advocacy for Religious Freedom

John Cao’s experience is not an isolated case. In China, many house church pastors and Christians face similar travel restrictions. For example, Pastor Jin Tianming of Zion Church in Beijing and Pastor Yang Hua of Living Stone Church in Guiyang have also been placed under border control, preventing them from reuniting with their families overseas. These cases reflect the Chinese government’s severe suppression of religious freedom.

John Cao’s case has drawn international attention. In 2019, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that he had suffered unjust treatment due to his Christian faith. His case has been widely reported by international media outlets such as Christianity Today, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America, and has also garnered strong concern from U.S. government officials and human rights organizations.

ChinaAid Association has urged the Chinese government to stop persecuting religious figures and allow Cao Sanqiang to exercise his basic human rights and reunite with his family.

Pastor John Cao’s experience highlights the harsh reality of religious freedom in China. Despite the authorities’ attempts to suppress faith through legal means, his story has instead inspired countless people to hold firm to their beliefs and seek justice and freedom.

“I knew I would pay for my faith.”

“I can feel that God is with me”: Pastor John Cao’s seven years of suffering brings glory to God 

(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)